Minister, Datuk Seri Madius Tangau said such efforts were important and useful when marketing the product online.

"In the digital economy, you'll only be able to sell your products virtually...(to convince the buyers), what you can do is to show your product certification," he told reporters after closing the Sabah Creativity and Innovation Technology Exhibition (Scintex) 2017 here today.

Madius said the ministry, through the Department of Standards Malaysia

a member of the International Standards Organisation (ISO) - would act as the regulator to the granting of accreditation to the making of a product.

He said the accreditation of the product technology, especially food products, should be in line with the halal certification, which was Malaysia´s strength to penetrate the international market.

"We must be confident and believe in the capability of our own people. Many may not know that the seismic rubber bearing technology for building structures to withstand earthquake shocks is produced in our country, namely in Klang.

"It is being used overseas like the California Hospital and the New Zealand Parliament building," he added.

WE may not be in the Pacific Ring of Fire, but let's face it – Malaysians are not immune to earthquakes.

Last month, a 5.6-magnitude earthquake struck near Medan, Indonesia. But its ripples reached Peninsular Malaysia where tremors were felt by residents in Penang and other areas.

In a more devastating event, a quake measuring 6.0 in magnitude rocked Ranau in Sabah, leading to the deaths of 18 people on June 5, 2015.

A year later in August, a three-second tremor sent residents, climbers and hotel guests scrambling when a 4.0-magnitude earthquake hit the area around Mount Kinabalu.

No major earthquakes have struck the peninsula so far but this doesn't mean it is spared.

Few will remember but in 2009, eight minor quakes were recorded in Bukit Tinggi, Pahang.

More vividly perhaps, those here may recall the tremors felt from the catastrophic 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake near Sumatra, Indonesia, which brought upon the tsunami.

Some Klang Valley folks literally felt the earth moved under their feet while others watched in disbelief as frames on walls swayed on their own.

Our authorities are leaving little to chance now.

New buildings will soon be able to better resist earthquakes and tremors with a design code for buildings currently being drafted to raise safety standards of structures.

The code is expected to be ready by October this year, reveals the Department of Standards Malaysia (JSM), which comes under the Science, Technology and Innovation Ministry.

"It will be applicable to all buildings including houses, commercial areas, landed properties and high-rise buildings.

"But for now, the finer details of the code are currently being deliberated by a working group," the JSM tells Sunday Star.

Such efforts are a timely development as more Malaysians are moving into condominiums and apartments, with about 30% of the urban population currently living in such high-rise buildings.

But while the code is a welcomed move to ensure the safety of the people, there is one downside – it could lead to more expensive properties.

"When the code is published, it isn't mandatory for all buildings to follow as it is up to the local authorities to impose such standards.

"But there is likely to be additional costs to make buildings more earthquake-resistant in line with the code.

"This could possibly raise construction costs by about 5% to 10%," the JSM estimates.

Among the features that can be incorporated to buildings to help it weather quakes are the use of reinforced concrete and seismic rubber bearings.

The group drafting the code comprises officials from relevant government agencies such as Malaysian Meteorological Department (MetMalaysia), Minerals and Geoscience Department, Public Works Department (JKR), Sabah Housing and Real Estate Developers Association, Institution of Engineers Malaysia (IEM), Association of Consulting Engineers Malaysia and other seismic experts.

One of the key points that needs to be ironed out is the Peak Ground Acceleration (PGA) value, which will ultimately determine how much ground movement a building can withstand in the event of a quake.

However, the JSM says determining the PGA value is quite a challenge as Malaysia lacks data on earthquakes, unlike its neighbours which have a longer history of such phenomena like the Philippines.

"With such limitations, it is tough for experts to come up with the value," explains the JSM.

Calling the quake in Ranau "a wake-up call for everybody," Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Datuk Seri Madius Tangau says he hopes to introduce the building code as soon as possible.

"Once we have an agreement among the experts, we can finalise the code. The code will have to be approved by the ministry first, just like all standards introduced in Malaysia.

"The only way consumers can feel safe is for us to have such standards.

"We have a job to do and we cannot compromise on safety," he assures, adding that MetMalaysia is closely monitoring the country's seismic activities.

Efforts to come up with the earthquake design code was reported by StarMetro in 2015, whereby the IEM had said the Eurocode 8 (EC8) is to be incorporated into Malaysian standards.

IEM president Tan Yean Chin says the design code is not to make buildings earthquake-proof as it would be very costly, but rather to increase resistance against tremors if it happens in future.

"Having earthquake-proof buildings is also unnecessary for a low seismic risk country like Malaysia," he says.

He explains that IEM and others in the working group, are coming up with a Malaysian National Annex to support the EC8, with design recommendations especially for new building structures, which will suit a low seismic risk zone like Malaysia.

"When the code is approved, each state has its own jurisdiction to determine when to adopt it. Once it is adopted, then all new buildings will have to follow the code.

"As for existing buildings, it will be up to the owners' discretion to seek advice from professional engineers to assess whether such structures need to be upgraded or retrofitted to comply with the code," Tan explains.

Fortunately, he assures that owners of present buildings shouldn't be overly concerned.

"To date, buildings in Malaysia, particularly in the peninsula and Sarawak are considered safe based on records over the past 100 years or more in terms of earthquakes," he says.

Despite some high-rise structures in the Klang Valley experiencing "swaying" from the 9.1-magnitude Indian Ocean earthquake in 2004, no structural damages were reported.

"This means that existing buildings are still safe after the incident. Therefore, adopting the new code is just like an added measure to improve safety," Tan says.

He says nobody can predict where and when the next earthquake will strike, even in a low seismic risk country like Malaysia.

Tan explains that tall buildings are more vulnerable to distant earthquakes because high rise structures have lower frequencies in vibration, resonating with the low frequency of seismic waves from distant earthquakes.

"As such, high rise buildings (exceeding 30m) in western Peninsular may be affected by tremors from distant earthquakes such as from Sumatra.

"On the other hand, such tall buildings can better withstand close-range earthquakes compared to shorter buildings.

"This is because the high frequency of vibration from the nearby quake will resonate closer with shorter buildings, causing more damage," he says.

"If this continues, buildings designed in accordance with the existing Uniform Building By-laws 1984 are considered safe.

"It has been generally accepted by local structural engineers that the impact of seismic tremors from earthquakes in neighbouring regions on Malaysian buildings is not likely to be catastrophic," he says.

But in Sabah, Kamaluddin says, the local authorities are more cautious and have decided to include the requirements for seismic loads as a criteria before issuing planning permissions.

However, the issue of public safety in the event of earthquake is not confined to providing good building design alone.

"As building owners, we need to ensure that our buildings are well maintained and in good condition.

"A study by JKR found that the risk of building failure in an earthquake is significantly higher for ill-maintained buildings compared to well-maintained buildings that have not been designed according to seismic standards.

"Thus, it is money well spent to maintain buildings because they will better withstand earthquakes," Kamaluddin adds.

PETALING JAYA: A new design code to make buildings more resilient to tremors is expected to be ready later this year.

The proposed code, to be ready by October, will cover all buildings including condominiums, landed properties and commercial places, said the Department of Standards Malaysia (JSM).

"Currently, the technical details of the code are being ironed out by a working group," the JSM told Sunday Star recently.

The group comprises the Ma­­laysian Meteorological Department, Minerals and Geoscience Depart­ment, Public Works Department (JKR), Institution of Engineers Malaysia (IEM), Sabah Housing and Real Estate Developers Association and other experts.

However, it is possible that the new standards may lead to higher construction costs, with the JSM estimating the increase to be about 5% to 10%.

"After the code is published, it isn't compulsory for all buildings to follow the code as it is up to the local authorities to decide on imposing the standards," said the JSM, which comes under the Science, Tech­nology and Innovation Ministry.

IEM president Tan Yean Chin said the code could be used in all states in Malaysia but each state had the power to determine when to implement its application.

"Once the code is adopted by the local authorities, then all new buildings to be constructed will have to comply with it.

"As for existing buildings, it will be up to the owners' discretion to seek advice from professional engineers to assess whether such structures need to be upgraded or retrofitted to comply with the code," he added.

Tan said that while the code would increase the resistance of buildings to higher magnitudes of tremors, owners of existing buildings should not be overly concerned about their properties.

"Adopting the code is like adding new features to a car to further improve its safety.

"It doesn't mean that existing cars are unsafe without such features," he added.

While Malaysia has generally low seismic activity, it is still subject to tremors from earthquakes in neighbouring countries.

On Jan 16, residents in Penang and other areas on the west coast of the peninsula felt the ripples of a 5.6-magnitude earthquake that struck near Medan, Indonesia.

Sabah has recorded more major incidents, including a 6.0-magnitude local earthquake in Ranau which led to 18 deaths in June 2015.

It was reported that Malaysia was working on an earthquake design code by endorsing the Eurocode 8 to be incorporated into Malaysian standards.

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 13 (Bernama) -- The Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (Mosti) has approved 15 new Malaysian standards (MS) for electric wires and cables to reduce the risk of injuries and accidents among consumers and the industry.

Its minister Datuk Seri Madius Tangau, in a statement, today said the standard also covered the specification of electric wires and cables to ensure they were safe for use.

"It also includes the testing method which is expected to be used for laboratory testing of household appliances for product certification," he said.

He said the ministry had also approved 10 new MS, including two related to children's playground surface, nine amendments to existing standards while 34 standards were being reviewed.

A total of 5,332 MS, covering various industry sectors, have been developed under Mosti through the Department of Standard Malaysia.

Apakah peranan dan tanggungjawab Standards Malaysia?

10 Oktober 2016

Standard Madu Kelulut siap Jun depan

20 September 2016

Standard Madu Kelulut Siap Jun 2017

20 September 2016

Malaysia to develop standard for kelulut honey

20 September 2016

Malaysia Invited To Become Board Member Of Standards & Metrology Institute For Islamic Countries

25 May 2016

Complying with Standards in the new economy

4 September 2016

Standards Malaysia Sensitises Malaysians On Various Aspects Of Quality For The Better Life #Adastandarduntung

PUTRAJAYA: A standard is to be developed by June next year for the 'kelulut' (stingless bee) honey so that it can be branded as a Malaysian superfood, Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Datuk Seri Madius Tangau (pix) said today.

The standard was necessary in view of the fake honey rampant in the market that was detrimental to health, he said in a statement.

Madius said the standard would be developed by the Department of Standards Malaysia in collaboration with the Malaysian Agricultural Research and Development Institute.

"It is hoped that it will be a world-class credible standard," he said.

Madius said agencies of the ministry, such as Malaysia Genome Institute-National Institutes of Biotechnology Malaysia and NanoMalaysia, were involved in collecting samples of the honey for analysis. — Bernama

25 May 2016

Malaysia Invited To Become Board Member Of Standards & Metrology Institute For Islamic Countries

ISTANBUL, May 25 (Bernama) ­­ Malaysia, which is recognised for spearheading global halal standards, has scored another first as it has been invited to join the board of directors of the Standards and Metrology Institute for Islamic Countries (SMIIC). SMIIC is an affiliated institution of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) which assumes an important role in harmonising standards among OIC countries especially those related to halal standards.

Director­ General, Department of Standards Malaysia, Datuk Fadilah Baharin said Malaysia's involvement in the board was viewed as very important in assisting OIC countries in the harmonisation process. "Malaysia has been invited to be part of the board which will formulate the direction for OIC countries in terms of standards especially halal standards. "With Malaysia's involvement, we will have a louder voice and unanimous support from other OIC member countries especially in pioneering the standards harmonisation process," she told Bernama here on Tuesday.

Among OIC countries, only 13 countries are represented on the SMIIC board including Turkey, United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia. The selection of board members is based on a consensus among them. Malaysia now enjoys observer status only after being a member of SMIIC for two years. "Our agenda is to provide exposure and training using our expertise. We can assimilate halal standards in OIC countries and via SMIIC, Malaysia can contribute towards enhancing the capability of these countries. "We (Department of Standards) and the Malaysian Islamic Development Department (JAKIM) will collaborate to realise this objective. We hope to sit in the SMIIC board by year­ end," said Fadilah.

Meanwhile, JAKIM Halal Hub Division Director Dr Sirajuddin Suhaimee said Malaysia has been known, for years, for being at the forefront of several halal initiatives. "Only we have 13 halal­ related standards and they are used as a guide by the industry and halal certifying organisations in Malaysia like the state Islamic Religious Council and international bodies," he added.

Early last month, under the patronage of theDepartment of Standards Malaysia, an agency in the ambit of Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation, two Malaysian schools Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan St. Joseph, Sarawak and Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Seri Pagi, Negeri Sembilan were awarded a gold and a silver medal in the 11th International Standards Olympiad.

It is a global competition for secondary school students organised by the Korean Agency for Technology and Standards (KATS) and Korean Standards Association (KSA), to demonstrate their knowledge and skills about standards, science and technology. Malaysia first participated this competition in 2014 where SMK Aminudin Baki from Kuala Lumpur and SMK Bandaraya from Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, won gold and silver medals.

Through this, Standards Malaysia hopes to raise awareness of standards and conformance among Malaysians especially the young people. A quality-conscious culture in youths would encourage demand for products and services that comply with standards. To illustrate the importance of complying with standards, a scandal erupted in 2007 when US Consumer Product Safety Commission discovered that the paint supplied to most of the toy makers in China had heavy metal limits higher than the International Standards of 90 parts per million.

At the height of this toy safety scandal, some 70pc of global toys are made in China for large brands like Mattel, Fisher-Price and Hasbro. Presence of high levels of heavy metals such as lead in toys could affect the health and growth of children. Authorities then clamped down on errant toy makers. According to the New York Times, Mr Zhang Shuhong, a main lead paint tainted toy suppliers, committed suicide as the offence caused huge losses and threatened the rice bowls of 5000 factory employees...read more

28 August 2016

Standards Malaysia Sensitises Malaysians On Various Aspects Of Quality For The Better Life #Adastandarduntung

CYBERJAYA, Aug 29 (Bernama) ­­ Today marks the 20th anniversary for Department of Standards Malaysia (Standards Malaysia) which has successfully achieved several milestones in standardisation and accreditation activities in order to sensitise Malaysians on various aspects of quality for the better life.

"I am delighted to note that for the past two decades, Standards Malaysia has kept contributing in this quality infrastructure by developing standards in various sectors and also actively propagating the utilisation of standards through its Standard Compliance Program. Concurrently, Standards Malaysia has also provided credible accreditation services to the industry," said Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation (MOSTI), YB Datuk Seri Panglima Madius Tangau.

To date, through the concerted effort by all parties, Standards Malaysia has managed to excel in the development of more than 6,000 Malaysian Standards (MS) across 25 different sectors i.e. Halal, agriculture, road vehicles, building, rubber etc. Besides, Standards Malaysia has accredited more than 650 labs, 29 certification bodies and 11 inspection bodies in whole Malaysia.

"Not only that, the role of Standards Malaysia has been given a special attention by the Government in the Eleventh Malaysia Plan (11MP), the last miles towards realising Malaysia as a developed nation by the year 2020. Standards Malaysia spearheads the Standards Component of the Strategic Reform InitiativesCompetition Standards & Liberalisation (SRI­CSL) under Economic Transformation Programme. In addition, with the signing of the Trans­Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPPA), the role of Standards Malaysia has become increasingly important. As everyone knows, in order for industry especially SMEs, to have a wider market access, compliance with standards is a must," he added.

"As the sole National Standards and Accreditation Body, we also evolved as a purpose­driven institution and continues to transform the business landscape of the country by creating and humanising quality culture amongst manufacturers and consumers alike. We have developed standards to help Malaysian Companies adopt these for better marketability of their products and services, internationally. We have been engaging with the public especially the youth of the country through various programs and platforms, to raise awareness as well as quality conscious buying behaviour. In short, Standards Malaysia will continue to sensitise Malaysians on various aspects of quality for better businesses, better economy and the better life," said Director General of Standards Malaysia, YBhg. Dato' Fadilah Baharin.

Several activities will be held throughout this years in conjunction with this 20th anniversary ie. Standards Awareness Programme (28 August), FunRun 2016 (16 October), the launch of 20th anniversary book in November.

KUCHING: SMK St Joseph Kuching did Sarawak proud when the school took the Gold Medal for the Middle School Category at the 11th International Standards Olympiad organised by Korean Agency for Technology and Standards (KATS) in Anseong, South Korea last week.

The school team comprised students Abraham Chor Jin Ming, Alwyn De La Rosa Len, Mohamad Shuffri Suhaidi and teacher Clement Belen, according to a press statement issued by Department of Standards Malaysia (Standards Malaysia) in Cyberjaya yesterday.

The event held from Aug 4-6 also saw SMK Seri Pagi from Seremban, Negeri Sembilan taking the silver in the High School category. The school team comprised students Nurul Izza Nazariah Jamaludin, Nurzainie Norsham Muhd Fakhruddin Arrozi Mohd Azali and teacher Norraini Abu Bakar.

The Middle School Category is for students aged 13-15 years while the High School category for students aged 16-17 years.

In this competition, students were given the challenge and opportunity to demonstrate their creativity, problem-solving skills and cooperation through team-based competitive standardisation activities.

The criteria were based on functionality, efficiency, creativity and economic aspects of their work.

"It was very exciting and inspiring news for us and the whole of Malaysia. It convinced us that Standards Malaysia has done right in advocating standards and conformance to the young generation to bring a better quality of life.

"We encourage and seek more participation from young Malaysians in this nationbuilding initiative through education on standards."

She thanked KATS for providing this opportunity to Malaysia and four other countries namely Peru, Rwanda, Indonesia and Japan, besides local participation.

"Finally, I hope the students (the winners) will be our key ambassadors to bring the ‘standards and quality' message wherever they go and in whatever they do," Fadilah added.

This was the second time Malaysia had placed in the annual competition in South Korea.

Malaysia first won gold and silver during the 9th International Standards Olympiad in 2014 thanks to SMK Aminudin Baki from Kuala Lumpur and SMK Bandaraya from Kota Kinabalu, Sabah.

Through participating in this competition, Standards Malaysia hopes to raise the future generation's awareness of standards and conformance.

The department aspires to instil a quality-conscious culture in youths so that they will demand products and services complying with standards.

This will ensure suppliers and manufactures produce quality products and services which will also increase the quality of local products and services, its marketability and competitiveness."

As future leaders who will shape Malaysia in years to come, this knowledge will also help youth to make rightful decisions to protect customer's rights to quality products and services and advocate for public safety and health and to protect the environment.

In the current open market and opportunities created through free trade agreements such as Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPPA), compliance to standards is one of the key enablers for local industries to succeed.

KUALA LUMPUR, March 4 (Bernama) ­­ The International Organisation for Standardisation for Anti ­Bribery Management System is being developed and will be launched tentatively by year­end.

Department of Standards Malaysia Director­General Datuk Fadilah Baharin said the standard aimed to help an organisation to establish, implement , maintain and improve anti ­bribery compliance programme or management systems.

"Adherence or acceptance of this standard can be part of the Corporate Integrity Pl edge (CIP) which can enhance reputation of the organisation for taking steps to prevent bribery.

"Hence, all 17,000 members of HRDF (Human Resources Development Fund), who may choose to take the CIP in the near future will by default , accept to implement this standard," he said in a statement here today.

Meanwhile, HRDF chief executive Datuk C. M. Vignaesvaran said about 17,000 members registered under HRDF to sign the CIP and make a unilateral declaration against corrupt practices and express their resolve to work towards a highly principled Malaysian business environment .

He said HRDF must work together to create a zero tolerance environment for corruption in Malaysia and adhere to the principles of good governance and commitment to meritocracy and transparency in all business dealings.

Last year, HRDF had signed the CIP and adopted several strategies and approaches to strengthen good governance, including sharing business intelligence on irregularities and corruption with the Malaysian Anti ­Corruption Commission.

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 20 (Bernama) -- The Department of Standards Malaysia hopes more industry organisations will come forward to be certified as standards development agencies (SDAs) to maintain and enhance the level of quality in their respective industy.

Since the Standards of Malaysia Act was amended in 2012, five agencies and industrial associations have been appointed as SDAs, in addition to SIRIM Bhd, which took on the role single-handedly in the past.

These SDAs help administer and manage standardisation activities within the scope of the respective industrial standards, said Datuk Fadilah Baharin, the director-general of the Department of Standards Malaysia, the national standards and accreditation body.

"The need for more SDAs is crucial to industry as more companies have now realised the importance of meeting high quality standards in order to compete in the global market," she told Bernama in an interview recently.

She said as the economy and industry grow further, SIRIM alone cannot be the sole quality standards developer.

Standards Malaysia meanwhile covers Halal Standards and Organisational Management, while SIRIM covers 19 other sectors out of the total of 25 sectors namely Agriculture, Mechanical Engineering as well as Petroleum and Gas.

Elaborating on the process of becoming SDA certified, Fadilah said there has been overwhelming response from organisations representing various industries.

"However, the process of becoming an SDA is stringent, as we are very careful in not allowing organisations to skew it to their agenda and degrade the standards requirements," she said.

To qualify as an SDA, the agency or industrial association should be free of any conflict of interest and can adhere to Standards Malaysia's criteria for the appointment and accreditation of SDAs on a continuous basis, said Fadilah.

"It must also have the mandate to represent national and public interests for the respective sectors and established the necessary infrastructure and be prepared to be assessed by Standards Malaysia if and when needed," she said.

Previously, indigenous standards development for a specific sector would take up almost three years, but with SDAs, this can be done within a year or a year and a half, she said.

The adoption of international standards such as International Organization Standardization/International Electrotechnical Commission has also become faster, she said.

"For example it used to take about nine to 12 months, but now with the relevant SDA, this has now been reduced to about four to nine months," she added.

CYBERJAYA, July 19 (Bernama) -- The Department of Standard Malaysia is developing edible bird's nests production standards and test methods to ascertain the safe levels of nitrate content for consumption and to meet stringent export requirements for China's market.

Director-general Datuk Fadilah Baharin said a comprehensive study was being conducted by the department along with the Ministry of Health and the new standards were expected to be introduced by the end of next year.

She said high nitrate content could pose serious health risks such as cancer and China had banned the import of unprocessed swiftlet nests from Malaysia before for allegedly having high nitrate content.

However, the export of bird's nests in processed forms or ready-to-eat jelly or drinks (in bottles) is not affected, she told Bernama.

Currently only 50 per cent of swiftlet farming companies were able to export bird's nests to China, she said, adding that, "With the introduction of the standards, we expect up to 90 per cent of the companies could export their products."

Meanwhile, Fadilah said the standards swiftlet farming initiated by Standards Malaysia since 2010 were the first of its kind in the world.

She said the department would also be introducing another new standard, the MS2612:2015 Raw-Unclean Edible Birdnest (EBN) - House Nest - Specification which would be launched by Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Datuk Dr. Ewon Ebin in September.

Fadilah said the development of standards of raw bird's nests for authentication, quality, grading, packaging and labeling started three years ago.

"The standards, which meet the international standards, certainly help unprocessed bird's nest products to be graded systematically to facilitate export to the international market," she added.

She said besides China, the local swiftlet nest industry also targeted new markets, including Hong Kong, Japan and Italy to capitalise on rising demand.

KUALA LUMPUR, July 21 (Bernama) -- Local authorities (LAs) in the states have been urged to adhere to the Department of Standards Malaysia's guidelines on earthquake-resistant structures in their future buildings besides inspecting their existing buildings to ensure they meet the criteria.

"They (LAs) have to make sure that every owner of the building follows the standards for earthquake resistance for every building they have completed," Director General Datuk Fadilah Baharin told Bernama.

At the moment, only the federal government and Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) are adhering to the standards, he said.

"They (those not following the standards) do not see the consequences, they think earthquakes won't happen in Malaysia, but then it happened (in Ranau, Sabah).

"So now after that, we have to improve (in our adherence to standards)," he said.

It would cost about RM55 million to repair and rebuild structures damaged by the recent earthquake in Ranau, including several schools, he said, adding LAs should include adherence to the standards as a condition when issuing certificates of fitness for buildings.

"The existing standards are adequate, but no one is using them. There is no point in coming up with the standards if nobody uses them," he said, pointing out that the standards have not been followed due to lack of enforcement and the additional cost they entail.

"It's a mentality problem. It's time for change, especially for our LAs and also developers, they need to become less stingy in spending their money on their projects, in order to ensure safety.

"The buildings in Ranau are old, and for maintenance purposes, the LA there should impose the Malaysia standards for buildings," said Fadilah, who expressed hope the LAs would come and see him to identify which standards should be applied for their particular conditions.

"For the public, I hope they demand for their safety, if not from their LA then from me directly, on which standards their present building should adhere to.

"If they demand, if we create the pressure, by default the LA has no choice but to impose the relevant standards," he said.

-- BERNAMA

7 Jan 2015

Pueh Camp in Sematan to undergo certification and accreditation with another camp from Selangor

KUCHING: The Pueh Camp in Sematan near here has been identified as the first eco-tourism destination from the state to undergo certification and accreditation, simultaneously with Selangor's Kem Bina Semangat Ampang Pecah in Kuala Kubu Baru.

Covering an area of 173 acres and established in the 1990s, it is one of the oldest camps in Sarawak.

The Department of Standards Malaysia (Standards Malaysia) director-general Datuk Fadilah Baharin revealed yesterday that the audit check on Pueh Camp to ascertain what improvement and further development needed to be done would be carried out sometime next month.

"This is my second visit to plan for this project and collaboration with Sarawak which shall be secured once everything is in place," she said.

"Moreover, Standards Malaysia also intends to expand the project to other tourist attraction spots and we will do this stage by stage," she added.

Fadilah was here to pay a courtesy call on Social Development Ministry which was represented by its principal assistant secretaries Bujang Budin and Sebastian Sujang (Development) at Baitulmakmur Building in Petra Jaya here.

Standards Malaysia and Malaysian Tropical Environment Adventure and Fellowship Society (MyLEAF) will collaborate with Social Development Ministry and Dayak National Congress to promote Sarawak's eco-adventure tourism.

Standards Malaysia will also help to position Sarawak as a globally competitive eco-adventure tourism destination anchored by standardisation and accreditation with Pueh Camp.

Standards Malaysia and MyLEAF had last year successfully organised the Gawai Adventure Camp in Pueh Camp and they hoped to see more exciting Gawai activities this year.

Though the project was still in its early planning stage, Sebastian assured that the ministry looked forward to working together with Standards Malaysia to earn the accreditation and certification.

Once achieved, Malaysia would be the first in the world to introduce and implement eco-tourism for tropical forest based on guidelines approved by ISO (International Organisation for Standardisation), said Fadilah.

"The world is actually watching and eagerly waiting for Malaysia to earn this eco tourism standard. It took us seven years to get the ISO guidelines approved, just last year," she said.

"Credible certification standards are important to improve the quality of eco-adventure tourism products and services that meet the quality, safety and security," she emphasised.

Quality standards, she continued, was a way of ensuring that any activity or product within the eco tourism sector met at least the minimum but strict environment, social and economic criteria.

She pointed out that it would involve three aspects – leaders' competency, safety and tour guides.

"The standards will apply to outdoor activities like hiking, water rafting, camping; accommodation and facilities; certified trainers, instructors and tour guides; and the environmental responsibilities for the natural surrounding including jungle, forest, sea and all natural resources," she explained.

"It is important to raise the level of professionalism and confidence nationally and internationally in order to attract global travellers to Malaysia," she emphasised.

This initiative, she added, was in line with the government's aspiration to enhance the tourism sector's contribution to the national economy.

On choosing Sarawak, Fadilah pointed out that the state had much to offer to domestic visitors and foreign tourists particularly.

"Sarawak is distinct for its eco adventure tourism… to experience the real nature and diversity of the outdoor. Sarawak eco-adventure tourism has huge potential to open doors globally," she highlighted.

Meanwhile, MyLEAF vice president Granda Aing hopes Petronas, which gives priority to human resource development, will support the programme as part of their corporate social responsibility.

"Budget constraint at times is one of the challenges that need to be addressed and we need private initiatives to help us achieve this," he added.

SINTOK: Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM) today became the first public university in the country to ink a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Standards Malaysia to introduce courses in the standardisation and innovation management field.

The collaboration shall pave the way to introduce new academic courses pertaining to standardisation and industry-oriented Research and Development (R&D), besides industrial training.

UUM Vice-Chancellor Prof Datuk Dr Mohamed Mustafa Ishak signed the MoU on behalf of the university while Standards Malaysia was represented by its director-general Datuk Fadilah Baharin.

Prof Mohamed in a statement said the collaboration was aimed to create awareness on the importance of standardisation and producing future young experts in the field.

"On top of that, the standardisation field will also create future job opportunities while further promoting the culture of quality which set to improve institutional product and service trustworthy.

"The MoU is in line with the National Standards and Strategy Action Plan (NSSA) five strategies approved by the Cabinet in October 2004 which outlined the importance of standard compliance," he said. He added that the 2013 National Standard Compliance Programme (NSCP) report revealed that up to 65 per cent of small and medium-scale enterprises had failed to comply with the standard due lack of awareness and lack of demand for products which complied to the standard.

KUALA LUMPUR: Industry players can make forays abroad under the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), especially in the US, provided they meet the accreditation standards set.

Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Datuk Seri Wilfred Madius Tangau said the matter must be taken seriously as TPP member states would certainly look into standard compliance before allowing the entry of products and services.

"This means whether we like it or not, we have to embrace the standards, get accreditation, I'm sure definitely, TPP will accelerate the need for standards.

"If you do not want to encounter market access problem, be proactive from now onwards, be familiar with the interests and needs for standards in the countries concerned," he told reporters after presenting the Standards and Accreditation (StAr) Awards 2015 organised by the Department of Standards Malaysia, here yesterday.

Malaysia needs more accreditation bodies and laboratories to speed up the evaluation process and compliance standards, he said, adding that so far, 26 accreditation bodies, including 14 local ones, had been set up.

There are also 594 accreditation labs run by government agencies, public universities and the private sector, he added.

He said the government would intensify efforts to create awareness on the importance of standards, including standards-related activities, wealth intellectual and patent in conjunction with the Year of the Commercialisation Malaysia next year.

Standards Malaysia director-general Datuk Fadilah Baharin said from next year, the government would impose standards on companies vying for government contracts.

"As most small and medium enterprises are not accredited, I urge them to seek help from Standards Malaysia and get at least the ISO 9000 Standards," she said. — Bernama

Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Datuk Seri Wilfred Madius Tangau said the matter must be taken seriously as TPP member states would certainly look into standard compliance before allowing the entry of products and services.

"This means whether we like it or not, we have to embrace the standards, get accreditation, I'm sure definitely, TPP will accelerate the need for standards. "If you do not want to encounter market access problem, be proactive from now onwards, be familiar with the interests and needs for standards in the countries concerned," he told reporters after presenting the Standards and Accreditation (StAr) Awards 2015 organised by the Department of Standards Malaysia, here Friday.

Malaysia needs more accreditation certification bodies and laboratories to speed up the evaluation process and compliance standards, he said, adding that so far, 26 accreditation certification bodies, including 14 local ones, had been set up.

There are also 594 accreditation labs run by government agencies, public universities and the private sector, he added. He said the government would intensify efforts to create awareness on the importance of standards, including standards­related activities, wealth intellectual and patent in conjunction with the Year of the Commercialisation Malaysia next year.

Standards Malaysia director­general Datuk Fadilah Baharin said from next year, the government would impose standards on companies vying for government contracts.

"As most small and medium enterprises are not accredited, I urge them to seek help from Standards Malaysia and get at least the ISO 9000 Standards," she said.

The above mentioned program was conducted in January 2013 when Standards Malaysia announced its initiative to help industry players understand and better implement halal requirements based on the Malaysian Standards (MS) in Halal.

With the objective of supporting industry players to become self-sustaining in halal practice, the Halal AQL Certified Industry Foundation Program (CIFP) was conducted as a pilot project under Standards Malaysia Smart Partner initiative.

It is the aim of Standards Malaysia to create a "culture of quality" in the halal industry and contribute to producing competent practitioners.

"We are happy to extend our role in the Halal industry beyond just development of relevant standards, to include industry research and helping raising awareness. This programme is a strong evidence to prove our contribution to the ‘graduate employability' and endeavour in development of halal competence for our country," said Fadilah.

"Standards Malaysia is the custody for Malaysian Standards (MS) and the development of standards in the Halal industry has been one of our pioneering and most successful endeavours where more than 10 different standards across the Halal Value Chain have been developed. Nevertheless, it is proud to say that those standards have been used by industry players and regulators such as Department of Islamic Development Department," she further added.

To date, Standards Malaysia has developed more than 6,500 Malaysian Standards (MS) across 24 sectors and 60 per cent of these are aligned with International Standards, which means the industry players can improve the marketability and competitiveness of their products and services in both local and global markets.

Fifty participants underwent a three-day program at Knowledgecom Corporation, a subsidiary of Censof, involving six modules of intensive training and coaching sessions followed by a computer-aided assessment.

The training program exposed participants to fundamental topics and provided individuals with the capabilities to systematically apply the Halal Assurance Management System into their business operations. In total, 32 out of the 50 participants exceeded the CIFP qualification score and successfully attained the Halal AQL Certified Halal Quality Associate certificate.

In recognition of the halal industry as an inclusive business practice and to better understand existing gaps, the pilot session also included nine non-Muslim participants. Seven of the participants passed the training while five of them passed with distinction.

"I would like to apprise the message that such a programme or training is not only meant for Muslims but anyone who is keen and interested to take part in our initiative are more than welcome." said Fadilah.

Nix Chung, the founder of C.A. Sheimer (M) Sdn Bhd (C.A. Sheimer), who is one of the five participants who passed the training programme with distinction commented, "Halal AQL is a very interesting programme as it provides me with a better understanding of the word ‘Halal' as well as the whole industry. The knowledge that I gained from the training has improved my ability in decision making in respective of Halal matters."

C.A. Sheimer was founded in 1976 and is one of the leading producers of flavoured and parfum elements and fragrance compounds, with more than 30 years of experience and expertise.

"Malaysia has a competitive edge in the development of the Halal industry. It has an open economy and there is a well-developed physical and institutional infrastructure. It is the only country where the Government provides full support in promoting halal products and services.

"Over the last decade, the Government has initiated various measures to develop the halal industry in Malaysia. We have gained global recognition as a leading Global Halal Hub.

"I am convinced that we can achieve the objectives of transforming our economies through the Halal AQL Programme if we persevere in mobilizing our energies towards economic growth and prosperity." commented Ameer.

KUALA LUMPUR, April 30 (Bernama-BUSINESS WIRE) -- At a time when policy change proposals are going unheard, angel investor tax deductions are non existent, and venture capital investment is declining, Apple Co Founder, Steve Wozniak and Talent International have called for more support for Asia Pacific's tech entrepreneurs & professionals.

On April 10, an eight-year-old boy was killed when he was crushed by a falling goalpost at a playground in Taman Sri Wangsa, Batu Pahat. Ahmad Ilham Fikri Ahmad Zaki, a Year Two pupil at SK Bukit Soga, died from injuries to the head.

CYBERJAYA, Oct 14 (Bernama) -- Goods that do not comply with standards or any communications products that do not have the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) certification label are considered as ‘non-standard' products in Malaysia.

"Without the labels from MCMC or any certification marks from accredited certification bodies by Standards Malaysia, it simply means that the items may not be safe, reliable or even could be illegal to be used in this country. For example, non-standard wireless AV transmitters or routers that are being sold online at a bargain price. Many are not aware that these devices may interfere with other standard devices that provide broadband services, causing a lot of problems to consumers and service providers," said Dato' Mohamed Sharil Tarmizi, Chairman of MCMC.

"Yes, consumers must wise-up when buying, but at the same time, MCMC would like to call upon all sellers to be responsible too. They should follow the procedures and obtain the necessary certifications for their products to be sold in Malaysia. It is a win-win situation for both consumer and seller," he added.

MCMC, the regulator for communications sector, has enforced 10 Mandatory Standards and 24 Technical Codes which were developed based on the relevant national and international standards. The standards are to regulate the quality of communications services and ensure the safety and performance of communications products.

"Safety and quality which equal standards are key to maintain and improve the rakyat's way of life. Through standards and conformance, we can ensure that the industry provides safe products and services, hence boosting public confidence. In Malaysia, all mandatory products for example toys, helmets, household appliances, steel bars for construction and vehicle safety system, need to go through a series of credible testing and certification to prove that the products are safe for use," said Datuk Fadilah Baharin, Director General of Standards Malaysia.

To date, Standards Malaysia has developed more than 6,500 standards across 24 sectors of the economy. Standards Malaysia has also accredited 501 laboratories for several types of testing and calibration; and 24 certification bodies for various management systems and product certification based on internationally recognised standards.

"This collaborative effort by Standards Malaysia and MCMC hopes to raise awareness among the industry and consumers on the importance of standards in today's globalized economy. Indeed, in today's self-regulated environment, consumers are more discerning; thus prompting the industry to provide safe and quality products," concluded Datuk Fadilah.

*Note: This is a joint press release by Standards Malaysia and MCMC in conjunction with World Standards Day on 14 October. Standards Malaysia is a member of the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) whilst MCMC is a member of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU).

About World Standards Cooperation (WSC)

World Standards Cooperation was established in 2001 by the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), in order to strengthen and advance the voluntary consensus-based international standards systems of IEC, ISO and ITU. The WSC also promotes the adoption and implementation of international consensus-based standards worldwide; and resolves any outstanding issues regarding cooperation in the technical work of the three organizations. WSC will ensure that the three world-wide international standards development organizations (IEC, ISO and ITU), work transparently, and avoid duplication and overlap of work, as much as possible. On 14 October, WSC celebrate World Standards Day (WSD) every year, and the theme of this year is Standards level the playing field, where it believe all the competitors have an equal chance.

For more information, visit http://www.worldstandardscooperation.org/

About Department of Standards Malaysia (Standards Malaysia)

Governed by the Standards of Malaysia Act 1996 (Act 549), the Department of Standards Malaysia (Standards Malaysia) is an agency established on 28 August 1996, under the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MOSTI). Standards Malaysia is the National Standards & Accreditation Body of Malaysia providing confidence to various stakeholders, through credible standardisation and accreditation services for global competitiveness. Our aspiration is to create a culture of quality amongst Malaysians, to make standards an accepted component of businesses locally and to achieve global recognition for our products and services; thus improving the overall quality of life.

As a custodian and authoritative body, we continually engage with our stakeholders to develop MS, which will protect the interest of consumers by providing an assurance of health and safety. For more than 18 years, we have successfully developed more than 6,500 Malaysian Standards (MS) and provided credible Accreditation Services to positively contribute to the economic, societal, environmental and national well-being. Standards Malaysia is also a signatory to the regional and international Mutual Recognition Arrangements and Multi-Lateral Recognition Agreements, and are subject to rigorous evaluation processes. This further enhances Malaysia's competitive edge by facilitating trade through international recognition of our products and services through MS and Accreditation.

About MCMC

The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) is a statutory body established under the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission Act 1998 (MCMCA) which implements and promotes the Government's national policy objectives for the communications and multimedia sector. MCMC regulates and promotes the development of the communications and multimedia industry which includes telecommunications, broadcasting, and online activities, postal services and digital certification. The Communication and Multimedia Act provides that MCMC undertakes a policy implementation role, while policy decision-making is vested with the Minister. The Minister may also give policy directions to the Commission.

Goods that do not comply with standards or any communications products that do not have the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) certification label are considered ‘non-standard' products in Malaysia, MCMC and Standards Malaysia said in a joint statement.

17 October 2014

GreenTech Teams Up With Standards Malaysia To Facilitate NSCP Implementation

KUALA LUMPUR. Oct 17 (Bernama) -- Malaysian Green Technology Corp (GreenTech Malaysia) exchanged documents on the memorandum of understanding (MOU) it signed with Department of Standards Malaysia to facilitate the implementation of the National Standards Compliance Programme (NSCP).

GreenTech Malaysia chief executive officer. Ahmad Hadri Haris, said the MoU aimed to enhance the competitiveness of Malaysia's small and medium industries in green technology.

"To promote green technology and to make the country a developed nation without harming the environment. standards are important to ensure that the companies that are moving towards green technology can perform better both locally and abroad." he said.

Ahmad Hadri said this to reporters after the exchange of MoU documents on the sidelines of the International Greentech & Eco Products Exhibition and Conference Malaysia 2014 here on Friday.

He said GreenTech Malaysia was working together with Standards and Industrial Research Institute of Malaysia and Malaysian Institute Development Authority to promote the green products in the country.

"Companies that buy green products will be given investment tax allowance. "Also. those that undertake green services will be entitled to income tax exemptions and that's why standards product certification is crucial." he said. GreenTech is a non-profit organisation under the purview of Energy, Green Technology and Water Ministry.

When laptop computers were first equipped with Wi-Fi in Malaysia back in 2003 or so, very few people were able to connect their devices to Wi-Fi hotspots. Today, everywhere we go, we expect to be connected via Wi-Fi, and not only on laptops but our smartphones and tablet computers too.

What was the driving force behind the proliferation and popularity of Wi-Fi? Put simply, it was a common technical specification that all laptop computer, smartphone and tablet makers adhered to that allowed them to work in concert with each other, whether you're in Malaysia or in another part of the world.

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 1 (Bernama) -- The Science, Technology and Innovation Ministry (Mosti) will implement a buy back programme to raise the commercialisation rate of innovation products from the current 8.73 per cent to 10-15 per cent by 2020.

The one-day symposium was jointly organised by the ministry, the Department of Standards Malaysia (DSM), and the Architecture and Environmental Design faculty of the International Islamic University Malaysia.

Abu Bakar said the ministry will buy back products with commercial potential and supply them to government agencies, schools and hospitals, citing a local company's Mousticide, a chemical-free mosquitocide said to be able to check the spread of dengue.

Earlier, Abu Bakar launched the revised Malaysian Standard MS1184:2014 Code of Practice for Universal Design and Accessibility in Built Environment, which provides guidelines for architects, town planners, designers and regulators to to create a better quality of life for Malaysians with disabilities and senior citizens.

Kuala Lumpur City Hall is the first city hall that has made the revised standard mandatory, requiring developers in Kuala Lumpur to obtain a Certificate of Completion and Compliance.

Abu Bakar said lat year, 477,549 people registered as disabled citizens, who require disabled-friendly facilities such as toilets, escalators and hotel rooms.

DSM has developed 6,550 Malaysian Standards covering all 24 sectors of the Malaysian economy including agriculture, quality management, plastics and construction, he added.

The BtaA certification will help beauty professionals gain credibility on the strength and merit of their personal qualifications, professional recognition and skill-based competencies.

The scheme, accredited by the Department of Standards Malaysia under MS ISO/IEC 17024, was first initiated in 2012 to provide national certification and international recognition for beauty therapists and aesthetic professionals.

To date, 19 beauty professionals have been certified and 14 fresh applications are already in the process.

Dr Ng said there were a lot of training centres available in the market to provide training for the beauty practitioners, including examination council to help them.

"We need to educate them (beauty professionals). The challenge is we still lack marketing awareness. At the moment, we are also trying to push harder in making sure that the government work hand-in-hand to make this certification mandatory.

"This is important because it will protect the consumer's right, the beauticians' image as well as the industry itself," he told Bernama on the sidelines of the Cosmobeaute Asia, 9th Malaysia International Exhibition Conference on Cosmetics, Beauty and Spa here today.

IPEC Bureau is a pioneer certification body accredited by Standards Malaysia to undertake the accreditation for personnel certification related to beauty science.

Earlier, in her keynote address, director-general of Standards Malaysia, FadilahBaharin, said the accreditation through IPEC Bereau would help boost the beauty industry domestically and internationally.

"This standard will provide a global benchmark for personnel certification programmes to ensure that it operates in consistent, comparable and reliable manner worldwide, thereby allowing individuals to have skills that translate across national lines," she said.

The four-day Cosmobeaute Asia, starting today, is the largest and most professional trade exhibition for the beauty industry in Malaysia and Asean.

An approximately 20,000 visitors are expected to attend the event that showcases over 320 exhibitors representing more than 600 brands worldwide.

CYBERJAYA, April 22 (Bernama) – Malaysia's non-clinical health and environment safety studies and the reports issued by our GLP compliance laboratories will now be accepted among 40 OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development) member countries. In fulfilling its vision to be accepted by Malaysians and recognised by the world, the fully adherent status is an important milestone for the Department of Standards Malaysia (STANDARDS MALAYSIA), which has been one of the appointed Compliance Monitoring Authorities (CMA) verifying the compliance of test facilities in the country, in keeping with the principles of OECD Good Laboratory Practices. Prior to this, Malaysia was awarded a provisional adherent status under the OECD Mutual Acceptance of Data (MAD) mechanism way back in October 2008 and the fully adherent status was subject to stringent evaluation by OECD Inspectors.

"As the National Standards and Accreditation Body with 'full adherent status' to the OECD MAD, we can positively contribute to help mitigate technical barriers of trade; enhance local and foreign investments in research and development of products involving industrial chemical, pesticide, pharmaceutical, and cosmetic biotechnology for chemical products; increase availability of safety data on high production volume chemicals; attain exemption of non-clinical research being repeated in OECD countries etc.", said Fadilah Baharin, Director General of STANDARDS MALAYSIA.

"The full adherent status also provides impetus to continually promote awareness, increase capacity and improve efficiencies among CMAs and Test Facilities", she added.

Based on the OECD Press release, OECD Secretary-General, Angel Gurria said that Governments participating in the MAD system have confidence that chemical safety test data generated in other countries is of high quality and can be used for regulatory assessments. This reduces duplicative testing, saves laboratory costs, promotes work- sharing by countries assessing the same data and removes a potential non-tariff trade barrier.

"Malaysia's participation in this system highlights the mutual benefit of the partnership between OECD and major emerging economies", she concluded.

About Department of Standards Malaysia (STANDARDS MALAYSIA)

STANDARDS MALAYSIA is the national standards and accreditation body providing confidence to various stakeholders, through credible standardisation and accreditation services for global competitiveness.

Governed by the Standards of Malaysia Act 1996 (Act 549), the Department of Standards Malaysia (STANDARDS MALAYSIA) is an agency established on 28 August 1996, under the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MOSTI). For more than 17 years, we have successfully developed Malaysian Standards (MS) and provided Accreditation Services to positively contribute to the economic, societal, environmental and national well-being.

As a custodian and authoritative body, we continually engage with our stakeholders to develop MS which will protect the interest of consumers by providing an assurance of health and safety. STANDARDS MALAYSIA is also a signatory to the regional and international Mutual Recognition Arrangements and Multi-Lateral

Recognition Agreements, and are subject to rigorous evaluation processes. This further enhances Malaysia's competitive edge by facilitating trade through international recognition of our products and services through MS and Accreditation.

About The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)

The OECD is the global economic policy forum and an inter-governmental organisation established in 1960. It consists of 34 industrialised countries including many EU member countries, some non- EU European countries, the North American Free Trade Area (NAFTA) countries and some Asia- Pacific countries, it aims to promote better policies for better lives. More information, kindly visit http://www.oecd.org.

About Good Laboratory Practice (GLP)

Good Laboratory Practice (GLP) is a quality system concerned with the organisational process and the conditions under which non-clinical health and environmental safety studies are planned, performed, monitored, recorded, archived and reported.